49ers v Jaguars

27 Oct 2013 - 5:00 PM

Wembley Stadium's second NFL International Series game of the season ended in emphatic style as San Francisco 49ers beat their hosts, Jacksonville Jaguars, 42-10.

It was always going to be a big ask for the Florida outfit, who landed in London for their first of four games under the arch in the next four seasons on the back of seven straight defeats.
San Francisco on the other hand had won five and were looking to push NFC West leaders Seattle Seahawks as they chase that all-important play-off place.

And it was a dazzling display from 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick that proved too much for Jacksonville, who remain rooted to the foot of AFC South.

Kaepernick helped himself to a pair of touchdowns while running back Frank Gore also got two, while Vernon Davis and Dan Skuta also paid visits to the endzone.

83,559 crammed into Wembley Stadium, just a month after Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers entertained their UK fanbase.

And it took the 49ers less than four minutes to open the scoring when running back Gore charged 19 yards to chalk up the game's first touchdown. Phil Dawson then sent the kick over for his first of six points on the night.

The Jaguars’ first play came to nothing, which allowed Kaepernick to take centre stage once again. Starting the play on their own 20-yard line, they progressed up the pitch reaching the Jaguars 12. Kaepernick, spotting the space, ran the ball to find the corner of the endzone and helped take his team 14 points up at the end of the first quarter.

Soon after the turn-around, Kaepernick masterminded San Francisco's third touchdown of the game, faking a hand-off two yards out before firing into Vernon Davis, free at the back of the endzone.

Kaepernick was enjoying his London experience, and on their next drive another fake on the nine-yard line opened up a chance for him to run, instead of throw, and he steamed left through the Jaguars defence for another six points.

Josh Scobee did give the Jacksonville support something to cheer with ten seconds remaining of the first half when he kicked a 38-yard field goal to make it 28-3 at the break.

It got better for the home team with three minutes left of the third quarter. Controlling the ball for much of the period, they were eventually rewarded when quarterback Chad Henne received the ball from a 29-yard third down and picked out Mike Brown darting towards the endzone. It was Jacksonville's first home touchdown of the season.

However, there was still time for another 49ers score. It was Gore’s second touchdown as he carried over from two-yards to send his team into the final quarter leading 35-10.
After all the offensive superiority of San Francisco, it was their defence that had the last word early in the fourth period. When Jaguars’ Marcedes Lewis looked to make in-roads forward, he fumbled the ball and line-backer Dan Skuta was on it like a flash. He powered out toward the space on the left flank before marauding all of 47 yards for another touchdown and sealed their sixth win from eight games.

Jacksonville will be hoping for a change of fortunes when they return to Wembley Stadium next season.

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